Fragmented whole: a theory of narrative and identity

Abstract

The act of storytelling is one way to understand the complex nature of identity. Through the act of storytelling, human communication is enacted in the world, and the performance of the story is an act of identification of the self. Like a kaleidoscope image that changes depending on the way it is turned and the amount of light it absorbs, so too, do narratives of identity change depending on the stories being assimilated and the context within which the assimilation takes place. The purpose of this study is to conceptualize identity with narration as a central component of identity formation and performance, leading to a new theory called narrative of identity.